Key facts about Yaks

About Yaks:

• Yaks found throughout the Himalayan region of south-central Asia, the Tibetan plateau, and Mongolia are herd animals with long, humped hair.
• Scientific Name: Wild yaks are sometimes referred to as a separate species (Bos mutus) to differentiate them from domestic yaks (Bos grunniens), although they are freely interbred with various kinds of cattle.
• Habitat:
  • The wild yak inhabits the alpine tundra at altitudes of 5000 to 7000 m, while the domestic yak can survive in much lower altitudes. 
  • The habitat can vary, consisting of three areas with different vegetation: Alpine meadow, alpine steppe, and desert steppe. 
• The yak-rearing states of India are Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
• Features:
  • Wild yaks stand about two meters tall at the shoulder. Domestic yaks are about half that height.
  • Both types have long, shaggy hair to insulate them from the cold.
  • Both sexes have curved horns, with males having more massive horns than females.
  • Wild yaks can be either brown or black. Domesticated ones can also be white.
  • Yaks’ lung capacity is about three times that of cattle, and they have more and smaller red blood cells, improving the blood’s ability to transport oxygen.
  • They are herbivorous.
• Uses:
  • Domesticated yaks are kept primarily for their milk and meat.
  • They are also used as beasts of burden, transporting goods across mountain passes for local farmers and traders as well as in support of climbing and trekking expeditions.
  • They can negotiate steep mountain cliffs quite easily. They can climb up to 20,000 feet in altitude.
• Wild Yaks are classified as ‘Vulnerable’ under the IUCN Red List.